Rural mailbox signal

ABSTRACT

An upright metal expansion coil spring having abutting adjacent convolutions is anchored at its lower end to an upper portion of the openable end of a mailbox of the type including an upstanding hinged cover pivoted along its lower marginal edge portion from a lower portion of the openable end of the mailbox for swinging movement of the upper end of the cover outwardly and downwardly away from a closed position overlying the openable end of the mailbox, the hinged cover including an upper right-angled flange portion overlying, in slightly spaced position, the outer surface of the adjacent upper portion of the openable end of the mailbox when the cover is in the closed position. The upper end of the coil spring includes a rod-like lengthwise extension provided with spaced oppositely angled generally right-angle bends intermediate the upper and lower ends of the extension. The free end portion of the extension remote from the coil spring includes an enlargement visible from a distance and the spring is bendable into an inverted U-shaped configuration with the extension projecting downwardly and the portion thereof extending between the right angle bends received between the adjacent upper portion of the openable end of the mailbox and the overlying right-angled flange portion of the cover. The free end of the extension including the enlargement thereon being disposed immediately inward of the hinged cover with the latter frictionally retained in a closed position and also serving to maintain the free end of the extension within the mailbox and thus the coil spring in an inverted U-shaped configuration until such time as the cover of the mailbox is opened and the coil spring and extension are rapidly swung, under the biasing action of the coil spring, to their upright rest positions.

United States Patent [191 Grayson Feb. 18, 1975 1 RURAL MAILBOX SIGNAL [76] Inventor: Robert E. Grayson, Rt.2, S., Great Falls, Mont. 59401 [22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 441,842

[52] U.S. Cl. 232/35 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/12 [58] Field of Search g 232/35, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,423 10/1947 Hurban 232/35 X 2,433,940 l/l948 Weaver 232/35 2,874,895 2/1959 Opp et al. 232/35 3,207,427 9/1965 Madewellmu 232/35 3,391,861 7/1968 Seckler 232/35 3,482,543 12/1969 Guidos 232/35 X 3,516,383 6/1970 Goodman 232/35 X 3,596,631 8/1971 Sutton 232/35 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B, Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An upright metal expansion coil spring having abutting adjacent convolutions is anchored at its lower end to an upper portion of the openable end of a mailbox of the type including an upstanding hinged cover pivoted along its lower marginal edge portion from a lower portion of the openable end of the mailbox for swinging movement of the upper end of the cover outwardly and downwardly away from a closed position overlying the openable end of the mailbox, the hinged cover including an upper right-angled flange portion overlying, in slightly spaced position, the outer surface of the adjacent upper portion of the openable end of the mailbox when the cover is in the closed position. The upper end of the coil spring includes a rod-like lengthwise extension provided with spaced oppositely angled generally right-angle bends intermediate the upper and lower ends of the extension. The free end portion of the extension remote from the coil spring includes an enlargement visible from a distance and the spring is bendable into an inverted Ushaped configuration with the extension projecting downwardly and the portion thereof extending between the right angle bends received between the adjacent upper portion of the openable end of the mailbox and the overlying right-angled flange portion of the cover. The free end of the extension including the enlargement thereon being disposed immediately inward of the hinged cover with the latter frictionally retained in a closed position and also serving to maintain the free end of the extension within the mailbox and thus the coil spring in an inverted U-shaped configuration until such time as the cover of the mailbox is opened and the coil spring and extension are rapidly swung, under the biasing action of the coil spring, to their upright rest positions.

. 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 RURAL MAILBOX SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many mailbox signals have been heretofore designed for rural mailboxes for the purpose of rendering a signal visible from a distance as a result of the mailbox having been opened such as occurs when a mailman places a mail delivery in the box. However, these previously designed mailbox signals such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,596,631 to Donald F. Sutton, dated Aug. 3, 1971, U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,383 to Louis Goodman, dated June 23, 1970, US. Pat. No. 3,482,543 to N. R. Guidos, dated Dec. 9, 1969 and US. Pat. No. 2,428,423 to Wendell .I. Hurban, dated Oct. 7, 1947 have included reasonably complicated mechanisms, required modifications to conventional forms of mailboxes, or required more than minimum mounting structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The mailbox signal of the instant invention requires no operating modifications of the associated mailbox, employs only a single fastening member and includes only a single component, other than the fastening member and visual enlargement on the signal. In this manner, the mailbox signal is very economically manufactured, may be readily installed by unskilled persons and may be readily mounted on existing mailboxes without modifications thereto.

The main object of this invention is to provide a mailbox signal which will. be automatically operative to render a visual signal when the mailbox door has been opened and closed.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a mailbox signal which may be readily mass produced at a very low cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mailbox signal whose structural features will afford an extended lifetime of use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mailbox signal that may be readily operatively mounted upon conventional forms of mailboxes.

A final object of this invention is to provide a mailbox signal in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of mailbox with the signal of the instant invention operatively mounted thereon and in an erect readily visible position to indicate that the door or cover of the mailbox has been opened;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal center-line of the mailbox and with the signal in a retracted position and held in the retracted position by the door of the mailbox being retained in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of the mailbox with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in vertical section and with the signal in the erect position after the door of the mailbox has been opened; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of the coil spring portion of the signal illustrating those portions thereof which function, together with a metal screw which may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, to secure the signal to an associated mailbox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of mailbox mounted atop a post 12. The mailbox 10 includes a tubular housing 14 openat its forward end and having a hinged door or cover 16 pivotally supported from its lower marginal edge portion 18 fromopposite side forward lower portions 20 of the housing 14 for swinging movement of the cover or door 16 between the upright closed position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings and the open position thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The cover or door I6 has a spring clip 22 attached to its outer surface and the spring clip 22 includes a handle tab 24 as well as a detent portion 26. The upper portion of the housing 14 includes a second spring clip 28 having an upwardly directed handle tab 30 and the spring clip 28 also includes a detent portion 32 with which the detent or detent portion 26 is cooperable to releasably retain the cover or door 16 in the closed position. It will also be noted, and more particularly from FIG. 2, that the cover or door 16 includes an upper right-angled flange portion 34 which overlies the forward extremity 36 of the upper wall portion 38 of the housing 14 in spaced relation relative thereto when the closure or door 16 is in the closed position.

The signal of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 40 and includes an upright coil spring 42 having adjacent convolutions 44 disposed in abutting relation. The lowermost convolution 44 of the expansion spring 42 includes a generally tangential extension 46 terminating in a backturned eye 48 which in turn terminates in a vertically short downwardly directed terminal end 50. The upper convolution 44 of the spring 40 terminates in an upwardly projecitng rod-like extension 52 including upper and lower portions 54 and 56 interconnected by means of a horizontal portion 58. Opposite right-angle bends 60 and 62 are formed at the junctures between 'the horizontal portion 58 and the lower and upper portions 56 and 54, respectively. The upper end of the upper portion 54 includes a brightly colored flag portion 64 which may be seen from a considerable distance.

In order to install the signal 40 on the mailbox 10, a small diameter hole 66 is formed in the upper portion or wall 38 of the housing 14 downwardly through which the terminal end 50 is inserted. The coil spring 42 is then angularly displaced relative to the opening or small bore 66 so as to be positioned in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings and a selftapping metal screw 68 is secured through the eye 48 and a second small bore or aperture 70 formed in the upper wall portion 38. The terminal end 50 and fastener 68 thus serve to tightly secure the signal 40 to the upper wall portion 38 of the housing 14. In order to set the signal 40, the upper portion 54 is grasped after the door 16 has been opened and the upper portion 54 is swung forwardly and downwardly and then rearwardly into the open end of the housing 14 until the horizontal portion 58, which is now inverted, rests upon the'forward extremity 36. Then, with the extension 52 held in inverted position by finger pressure applied to the inverted lower portion 56, the door or closure 16 is swung to the closed position and retained therein by the coaction between the spring clips 22 and 28.

When the door 16 is opened, the extension 52 is released and the biasing action of the coil spring 42 returns the latter to the upright position thereof illustrated in FIG, 3 of the drawings. Thus, when a mailman opens the door 16 after the signal has been set, the owner of the mailbox is rendered a signal which is visible from a distance that the mailbox door has been opened. Of course, after a mail delivery is made the door 16 is returned to the closed position, but the signal 40 has been released and thereby indicates that the mailman has made a delivery.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a mailbox of the type defining a horizontal tubular housing open at one end and provided with a hinged cover door for said one end pivoted along one marginal portion from a lower portion of the open housing end for swinging about a horizontal transverse axis in an upstanding plane between an upstanding closed position and an open position with the opposite marginal portion of said door swung outwardly and downwardly away from said one end of said housing, said opposite marginal portion of said door including a generally rightangled flange portion overlying, in slightly spaced position, the upper outer surface of the adjacent upper portion of the open end of said housing when said door is in the closed position, said housing and door including coacting means releasably securing said door in said closed position, a signal assembly comprising an upright metal expansion coil spring having abutting adjacent convolutions, one end of said coil spring being anchored at its lower end to an upper portion of the open end portion of said housing and the. other end of said coil spring including a rod-like lengthwise extension provided with spaced oppositely angled right angle bends intermediate its opposite ends interconnected by a generally horizontal section of said extension extending therebetween, the free end portion of said extension remote from said coil spring including an enlargement visible from a distance, said spring being bendable, after said door has been opened, into inverted U-shaped configuration with the inverted horizontal section of said extension abutted against said upper outer surface and the free end of said extension and said enlargement directly in front of the open end of said housing and said door then being swingable to the closed position with said inverted horizontal section sandwiched between said upper outer surface and said right-angled flange portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lowermost convolution of said coil spring includes an outwardly projecting horizontally disposed generally U-shaped eye terminating in a vertically short depending terminal end, said upper portion of the open end portion of said housing including a small bore formed therein downwardly into which said terminal end extends and a headed shank-type fastener secured downwardly through said U-shaped eye and the underlying portion of the upper portion of said open end of said housing.

3. A mailbox signal for attachment to an upper portion of the openable end of a rural mailbox, said signal comprising an upstanding coiled expansion spring having abutting convolutions when in its retracted state, anchor means carried by the lower end of said spring adapted for stationary anchoring to said upper mailbox portion with said spring projecting upwardly thereform, the upper end portion of said spring including an integral upstanding extension including an enlargement visible from a distance, said extension, intermediate said enlargement and said upper end portion of said spring, including spaced oppositely angulated generally rightangle sharp bends, with a horizontal section therebetween said spring being bendable into generally inverted U-shaped configuration with said horizontal section generally horizontally aligned with the lower end of said spring, so that said enlargement may be housed within said openable end of said mailbox with said horizontal section engaging said upper mailbox portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said anchor means includes an -integral generally horizontal eye portion carried by the lowermost convolution of said spring.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said eye portion includes a free end including a vertically short downwardly directed terminal end.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said enlargement comprises a flag member carried by the upper end portion of said extension. 

1. In combination with a mailbox of the type defining a horizontal tubular housing open at one end and provided with a hinged cover door for said one end pivoted along one marginal portion from a lower portion of the open housing end for swinging about a horizontal transverse axis in an upstanding plane between an upstanding closed position and an open position with the opposite marginal portion of said door swung outwardly and downwardly away from said one end of said housing, said opposite marginal portion of said door including a generally right-angled flange portion overlying, in slightly spaced position, the upper outer surface of the adjacent upper portion of the open end of said housing when said door is in the closed position, said housing and door including coacting means releasably securing said door in said closed position, a signal assembly comprising an upright metal expansion coil spring having abutting adjacent convolutions, one end of said coil spring being anchored at its lower end to an upper portion of the open end portion of said housing and the other end of said coil spring including a rodlike lengthwise extension provided with spaced oppositely angled right angle bends intermediate its opposite ends interconnected by a generally horizontal section of said extension extending therebetween, the free end portion of said extension remote from said coil spring includinG an enlargement visible from a distance, said spring being bendable, after said door has been opened, into inverted U-shaped configuration with the inverted horizontal section of said extension abutted against said upper outer surface and the free end of said extension and said enlargement directly in front of the open end of said housing and said door then being swingable to the closed position with said inverted horizontal section sandwiched between said upper outer surface and said right-angled flange portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lowermost convolution of said coil spring includes an outwardly projecting horizontally disposed generally U-shaped eye terminating in a vertically short depending terminal end, said upper portion of the open end portion of said housing including a small bore formed therein downwardly into which said terminal end extends and a headed shank-type fastener secured downwardly through said U-shaped eye and the underlying portion of the upper portion of said open end of said housing.
 3. A mailbox signal for attachment to an upper portion of the openable end of a rural mailbox, said signal comprising an upstanding coiled expansion spring having abutting convolutions when in its retracted state, anchor means carried by the lower end of said spring adapted for stationary anchoring to said upper mailbox portion with said spring projecting upwardly thereform, the upper end portion of said spring including an integral upstanding extension including an enlargement visible from a distance, said extension, intermediate said enlargement and said upper end portion of said spring, including spaced oppositely angulated generally right-angle sharp bends, with a horizontal section therebetween said spring being bendable into generally inverted U-shaped configuration with said horizontal section generally horizontally aligned with the lower end of said spring, so that said enlargement may be housed within said openable end of said mailbox with said horizontal section engaging said upper mailbox portion.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said anchor means includes an integral generally horizontal eye portion carried by the lowermost convolution of said spring.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said eye portion includes a free end including a vertically short downwardly directed terminal end.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said enlargement comprises a flag member carried by the upper end portion of said extension. 